Edinburgh Comedy Awards: Scottish comedians 'pipped at the post' by global talent

Nica Burns and Emma Brünjes told The Scotsman Scottish comedy is “sowing the seeds for the future”, saying they were “sure” Scots would appear on the list in the coming years, citing the rise of young Scottish talent.

The Scottish comedy industry has hit out at the shortlist, pointing to a ten year gap since a Scot last won the best show award when Richard Gadd took the title in 2016.

Only a handful of Scottish comedians have ever made the shortlist in the accolade’s 46 year history. Mr Gadd, who is to represent the winners with their awards on Saturday, won the award for Best Show for his critically acclaimed production, Monkey See Monkey Do.

Ms Burns and Ms Brünjes said an “outstanding” list of comedians have been shortlisted for this year’s awards, with former best newcomer winner Lara Ricote and four-time nominee Chris Cantrill among the nominations for Best Comedy Show.

Dan Tiernan and Spencer Jones have also each received their third nomination; with Harriet Dyer and Li Jin Hao completing the list.

Meanwhile, the Best Newcomer award shortlist, sponsored by the Taffner family, includes Dom McGovern, Fatiha El-Ghorri, Freddie Meredith, Marty Gleeson, Omar Badawy and Underground Monk Show.

Ms Burns said: “The whole world is there, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and while Scotland has a lot of talent, this year, they were pipped at the post. There are a small number of Scots, if you count up how many performers there are.

“We will see some more in the future, I’m sure.”

Ms Brünjes said: “There were some great Scottish acts we saw, and we can see some exciting acts coming up through Scottish talent. That was a conversation we had as a panel, but there is an eclectic spread of genres and talent and this is how we made the decision.

“I think we have started to see younger comedians coming through and I think there’s a bright future with some of the work that’s being done with two brilliant comedy clubs now running year round in Edinburgh. I suspect the trajectory will change in the future with what we’re seeing.”

Producer Katie Palmer of Brass Tacks said only a “handful” of Scots had ever been nominated for the award.

She said: “It’s not about this year, it’s just another year of the same. Statistics should play out that Scotland should be proportionately over represented in the awards, but they’re not. Being ‘pipped to the post’ just feels a bit patronising, like a wee pat on the head.

“Scottish acts quite often sell tickets more easily at the Fringe because they gig in Scotland year round, so they have their audience and don’t need the PR campaign and producers, but unfortunately, it seems that that is how you get the award. The panel is often London based and they are never not going to have a bias.”

She added: “Ten years and it just feels like the whole Scottish comedy scene is watching that list come out every year because it would be such a win if a Scottish comedian was on there. The entire country would feel like it was a possibility.”

Edinburgh comedian Liam Withnail pointed out that more men called John had been nominated for the awards than comedians who live and work in Scotland.

He said: “That number is five. Something is wrong here. I don't think local acts should get special treatment. But equally, there have been a number of shows by acts based in Scotland that were huge critical and commercial successes and still absent.

“I do not believe the rotating panel has an innate prejudice against acts based in Scotland. That's silly. But I do think a panel largely made up of industry types based in London is skewing the nominations.”

Previous winners of the Best Comedy Show award include Stephen Fry, Steve Coogan and Sarah Millican.

The judging panel, chaired by Liz Lewin, director of comedy series, Netflix UK, reached its decision following a rigorous process in which the panel and scouts, all former judges, collectively watched the more than 550 eligible shows, amounting to more than 1,400 viewings.

The awards, formerly known as the Perrier Awards, have three categories, including the headline Audible Best Comedy Show title, the Taffner Family Best Newcomer Award and the Audible Panel Prize.

Ms Lewin said: “What struck all of us on the panel this year is the range this shortlist covers – different backgrounds, styles, routes into a joke – yet every one of them made a room fall about laughing in a way only they could. Ten of us argued, laughed, and agreed… eventually! These are the people shaping the comedy landscape and we can't wait for audiences beyond Edinburgh to enjoy them as much as we did.”

The winners of the 2026 Edinburgh Comedy Awards – including the recipient of the Audible Panel Prize – will be announced at a ceremony hosted by Mr Gadd and Ayoade Bamgboye, winner of Best Newcomer last year on Saturday at Ghillie Dhu.

Earlier this month, Edinburgh Comedy Awards director Nica Burns announced her succession planning to see the 46-year-old awards - which have launched the careers of comedians including Frank Skinner and Stephen Fry - “to 100 years and beyond”.

Speaking at the annual Edinburgh Comedy Awards lunch in Edinburgh, Ms Burns, who has run the awards since three years after they were founded, announced the appointment of Emma Brünjes as executive director of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

Under the direction of Ms Burns, the Edinburgh Comedy Awards - known as the Perrier Awards, after their mineral water brand sponsor from their inception until 2005 - have earned a reputation for spotlighting the comedy stars of the future.

Award winners and nominees have gone on to have a significant impact on mainstream popular culture by writing, directing and acting in some of the most iconic television, film, music, radio, podcasts and stage productions of the past 45 years.